LEARNING TRADES

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 26263, 25 July 1945, Page 8

LEARNING TRADES

DISABLED EX-SOLDIEBS

WORK AT TRAINING CENTRE Since the removal of the training centre of the Disabled Servicemen's establishment League from Hopetoun Street to Pnrnell Rise in November last, the number of men undergoing training in various trades has increased from 20 to 46. These men have all been partially incapacitated during the present war, but are now making great strides toward acquiring expert knowledge of new occupations and complete rehabilitation, or learning to adapt themselves, in spite of their disabilities, to their pre-war work. In addition to those undergoing training at the centre, a fairly large number of disabled men have been found employment by the league. These men are being trained by private employers under the subsidised wages scheme. As the length of the training courses ranges from 18 months to over three years, not many have yet been completed, but already several former pupils have started their own business, with the aid of loans from either the - Rehabilitation Board or the league. Others have found work with private employers and a number are employed by the league at full award, and sometimes more than award wages. Wide Range of Work Instruction at the training centre consists of courses in cabinet-making, mop-making, boot repairing and surgical boot making, French polishing, upholstery, wood turning and arts and crafts. At a separate factory in Cook Street, men are taught to make artificial limbs. Although the mop-making department is the greatest revenue producer at present, its output being over 20 dozen mops of various types each day, sales averaging about £IOOO a month, it is expected that cabinet-making will, in time, become the mainstay of the centre. It is considered an eminently suitable occupation for men with a wide variety of disabilities. The stage has been reached where the men are now making leather upholstered chesterfield suites of high quality. On display in the showroom at the centre are three of these which have been completed for the Blinded Servicemen's Home at Maungakiekie. Other furniture that has been made for this home includes a very well constructed refectory table, 20ft long by 4ft wide, in finely grained rimu, beautifully French polished. The men who made it have been undergoing training for only six months. There are also many easy and fireside chairs for the lounges at the home, 51 dining-room chairs, and a number of office desks for the use of the blinded men when studying Braille. Enthusiastic Learners There are six learneis in the upholstery department, whichWjs been hampered slightly by the difficulty in obtaining coverings, but adequate supplies are now on the way from overseas. The French polishing department is %ne of the newest, having been in existence for only six months. This has proved to be most successful in rehabilitating, among others, a man who lost one hand as the result of the explosion of a booby trap in the Middle East. When visited recently, all of these men said they enjoyed the wiprk. Among the 13 ex-servicemen taking the boot-repairing and surgical boot making courses is one of the first New Zealanders to win a decoration in th« present war. He is Mr L. C. Martinson, who as chief veoman of signals, won the Distinguished Service Medal in H.M.S. Achilles at the Battle of the River Plate. The award was announced in June, 1940. Having almost completed his training, he intends to open a shop j of his own in the near future.

All of the instructors are enthusiastic about the progress being made by their pupils. "People don't know what is being done here," said one, who pointed to some of the completed products of/ the centre. He said the men were so keen to learn that it was not a task, but a pleasure, to teach them. Ideal o! Permanent Home The. premises on Parnell Rise are only intended for temporary occupation by the league, but the great improvement in the conditions under which the trainees work compared with those of 12 months ago has made the erection of permanent buildings on the site at the corner of Hiropito Street and Dominion Road a less urgent, although still necessary, project. Disadvantages of the temporary premises are that they are cold in winter and, being on a hillside, are difficult of access for soma of the disabled men. The conversion of the old dormitory block into a hostel for single men has not yet been accomplished, but eight of the flats across the read, formerly used by the Air Force, are in course of reconstruction and will be occupied shortly by married trainees. There are commodious new offices in the upper building of the training centre premises, where re-establishment, work can now be conducted in good, and for some departments excellent, * conditions until the league is able to achieve its goal — a permanent home. HARBOUR BOARD CHARGES QUESTION OF INCREASE (P.A.) "WELLINGTON, Tuesday Evidence brought by the Wellington Harbour Board in support of its application to the Price Tribunal for permission to increase its dues and charge! by 37 per cent on the levels was completed this morning. Submissions were made this afternoon by Mr A. PO'Shea, opposing the application on behalf of tne ><ew Zealand Farmers Union, and Mr J. F. 15. Stevenson, the board's solicitor. The tribunal reserved its decision. COMMISSIONS WON Advice has been received that Warrant, Officer Ernest Stanton Prohert, • R.N.Z.A.F., of Auckland, has been promoted to commissioned rank. Pilot Officer Prohert is a member of the permanent staff of the Air Force and is at g resent captain of a Lancaster bomber, le was educated at the Stanley Bay school and Takapuna Grammar School. Mr I. J. Mclvor, of Paterangi Road, Ohaupo, has been advised that his_ soil, N H. Mclvor, has been commissioned in the R.N.Z.A.F. overseas, where he has been on service for two years. A commission lias been won by Corporal H. Meltzer, son of Mr and Mrs J. Meltzer, of 16 Shipherds Avenue, Epsom. Second-Lieutenant Meltzer, who is serving with the 2nd N.Z.E.F., held a commission in the home defence forces, but resigned it in 1913 to go overseas. He is a well-known Auckland Rugby League and crioket player. PRESBYTERIAN MISSIONS

The Rev. D. N. Macßiarmid, director of missions of the Presbyterian Church, returned yesterday after a visit of mora than a month to the New_ Hebrides Islands. In addition to visiting til© mission stations of the Church. Mr MacDiannid attended the annual meeting of the Presbyterian synod at Santos Island. There were also present ou representatives of the Tasmaniati, South Wales and New Zealand churches.